Benxi's mountains are at their most spectacular in October, when the maple forests turn red and orange across the ridgelines. This is the best month to visit and also the most popular — expect company at Guanmen Mountain and Jiuding Tiecha Mountain on clear October weekends.
Summer is comfortable and green — good for the Water Caves, which maintain a constant 12 degrees regardless of outside temperature. Spring is pleasant for wildflowers on the hillsides. Winter is cold but manageable; the caves are open year-round and the bare forest has its own stark appeal.